CO2 and CH4 are the two most problematic greenhouse gases that create adverse effects on the environment. The conversion of these two anthropogenic gases to syn-gas and hydrogen through tri-reforming process is a promising route. The syn-gas with the H2/CO ratio of 1.5-2 is highly desirable as a feedstock in the Fischer-Tropsch process for the synthesis of various important chemicals, including dimethyl ether (DME), higher alkenes, methanol, and substitute natural gas (SNG), etc. In this study, various non-noble metal (Ni, Cu) catalysts supported on basic oxide (MgO, ZrO2) were synthesized by precipitation followed by the wetness impregnation technique. The physico-chemical properties of these catalysts were characterized by several N2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), CO2-temperature programmed desorption (CO2-TPD), etc. The tri-reforming activity of these catalysts were evaluated in a continuous downflow tubular packed bed reactor at different temperatures (650-800 oC), feed ratios, and at atmospheric pressure. At 800 oC, and at the optimum feed (CH4: CO2: H2O: O2: N2) ratio of (1: 0.5: 0.0125: 0.1: 1.0), Cu-Zn-MgO catalyst demonstrated the CH4 and CO2 conversion of 40 %, and ~20%, respectively. The catalyst activity was significantly improved for 5 wt.% Ni/ZrO2 catalyst. At lower temperature of 700oC, higher CH4 (86%) and CO2 conversion (~28%) was. The obtained H2/CO ration over the 5 wt.% Ni/ZrO2 catalyst was ~1.6, and it was almost constant for a longer period with negligible coke deposition. The activation energy with respect to CH4 and CO2 was calculated as 47 kJ/mol and 191 kJ/mol, respectively.
